88 cu ft tank and you would not believe.

[bnowlin]

I bought an 88 cu ft SCBA tank from a guy on Ebay and believe it he sent it ups and it was FULL 4500 psi a BOMB IMO.  I could not believe, but then again I have believed worse.
Bob

[1377x]

does it have a current hydro?
as much abuse they take when firefighters use them i hope they would be able to withstand a shipment
a bomb maybe but its still a bomb as you use it right?

[gene_sc]

They are safe as long as UPS driver does not throw them or drop them off truck Bob... My last two tanks came from cajun country in a pickup truck filled to over 4000 psi.
Gene

[bnowlin]

If Ups had of known it they prolly would not have picked it up.  However it was well well packed. the package weight more than the tank.  BTW Possum has some for 150.00 Plus shipping and I got the new shoebox to try ou and man it is fast for someone way out in the woods.
Bob

[TR]

To ship this correctly, with pressure, it would have taken alot more paperwork with UPS.   

For firefighting purposes, these tanks are built with a 4-1 safety factor.  Theoreticaly, it would take a pressure of 18,000 psi to blow one (if the burst disk was sealed.)  If i"m not mistaken the burst disks on these tanks are set to 5-6000 psi.  They can take a lot of abuse.  If you see the outer fiberglass wrapping with some deep damage, that could cause concern. 

The guy should't have sent the cylinder with pressure for sure, but its a long way from a bomb. 

[mtsheron70]

If it is a carbon fiber it is no bomb.  These are what we use in my job (Meth Lab's) dismantling the lab.  We use carbon fiber and so does the tactical team when taking down a lab because if someone gets shot at in the tank and the bullet pierces it, it will only blow out the air.  Not actually rupture in the degree of an explosion.  That is a big misconception.  I have even seen departments that shoot 200 lb. anhydrous ammonia cylinders to release the ammonia with high powered rifles and even they do not so call "blow up" even with a volatile chemical that has a boiling point of 28 degrees below zero!

They usually just split open and the rush or escape of air makes you poop your pants!

But yes, UPS and USPS has regs on shipping cylinders and I am sure that would violate their rules!

[cactusrat]

I even had a new gun (from the store) come in fully charged. Being the smart fellow I am, it took awhile for me to figure out a new gun wouldn’t take a charge.

[amb5500c]

as much abuse they take when firefighters use them

I'm a fireman and I can testify that "the vast majority" of us take better care of their equipment than you could possibly imagine. We have to. Our lives may depend on it. If any of our equipment is damaged or suspected of damage, it gets sent in for testing and/or repair. If deemed necessary, its replaced. Due to the price of this type of equipment and the fact that our lives depend on its functioning properly, it is absolutely necessary/mandatory to maintain it and inspect it daily.
Richard

[mtsheron70]

as much abuse they take when firefighters use them

I'm a fireman and I can testify that "the vast majority" of us take better care of their equipment than you could possibly imagine. We have to. Our lives may depend on it. If any of our equipment is damaged or suspected of damage, it gets sent in for testing and/or repair. If deemed necessary, its replaced. Due to the price of this type of equipment and the fact that our lives depend on its functioning properly, it is absolutely necessary/mandatory to maintain it and inspect it daily.
Richard

Richard is absolutely correct.  I house my agencies response truck at a local fire department and talk to the guys at the firehouse alot.  They actually fill my tanks for me when we use them.  Now I am a little less clean when it comes to my truck and gear but I can attest to firefighters gear as being clean enough to eat off of!  My SCBA tanks and I have 12 total between the truck and my G-Ride are well taken care of.  In fact 4 of my tanks today upon inspection are due a hydro test. 

We use MSA 2216 tanks for what we do that are composite tanks.  They simply do not explode.  I assume aluminum SCUBA tanks and such to be designed the same.  All should have stress points of manufacture for over pressure to expose that area first to rupture open for a what I would call "safe" venting of non-combustible air.

But that is an extreme case I would say.  Most have rupture/pressure disc that I know that will release pressure if it is a over charge effect.  Like I stated, if a .308 sniper rifle only penetrates and releases anhydrous into the ambient air I doubt very serious the UPS guy on the dock can make that thing so call "blowup"...................unless someone has used a volatile gas in the cylinder.

[bnowlin]

I bet if it did release,  they would wet their pants especiallly if they were driving on their delivery truck.
Bob

[williesurvive]

Blow up? No, break the valve off and all that pressure leaving through a hole the size of a pencil lead turns the tank into a deadly short range, unguided missile

[PakProtector]

I bought an 88 cu ft SCBA tank from a guy on Ebay and believe it he sent it ups and it was FULL 4500 psi a BOMB IMO.  I could not believe, but then again I have believed worse.
Bob

Sweet, $6-8 effective discount. Nicely done. Bomb? you've got to be kidding me...I bet that tank has a larger safety margin than the rifle you use it on.
cheers,
Douglas

[QVTom]

I'm not recommending shipping CF tanks with pressure but I would think they would be LESS susceptible to gorilla type shipping damage when pressurized.  The filament wound design is about keeping the tank from expanding not collapsing, without the pressure I bet they can be dented and collapse rather easily as the internal AL liner is rather thin and the filaments provide little compressive strength.

Tom

[lloyd-ss]

All this talk actually makes me feel BETTER about the safety of CF tanks.

[amb5500c]

All this talk actually makes me feel BETTER about the safety of CF tanks.

As it should Lloyd. Precautions still need to be adhered to for sake of common sense, but the equipment was actually designed to be used in WAY harsher environments and conditions than the casual air gunner will ever encounter.
Richard

[amb5500c]

I would think they would be LESS susceptible to gorilla type shipping damage when pressurized.  The filament wound design is about keeping the tank from expanding not collapsing, without the pressure I bet they can be dented and collapse rather easily as the internal AL liner is rather thin and the filaments provide little compressive strength.

Tom

I bet you are correct.
Richard

[TR]

I bet that tank has a larger safety margin than the rifle you use it on.
cheers,
Douglas
[/quote]

That brings up a good point.  How do PCP's handle an overpressure situation?  Do they have a burst disk somewhere?  I have a .25 cal Benjamin Marauder.  What would happen in the unlikely case I was to accidentally pressurize it to 4500 psi?

[bnowlin]

All it did to my mrod 25 was ruin the guage.  Streched the bourdon tube.  I dont know what it would do any higher.  scared me a little.
Bob